The Big day and all that follows

Well Christmas has come and gone. For someone who isn't supposed to be into it I sure had a good time. I think I'm coming to some sort of resolution but I'll save that for later.

I arrived in Brisbane on the 20th just in time to help Marty and Von with selling freshly roasted Blackstar coffee beans and cold pressed iced coffee at the market. It was a great time and I'm busting to get there on the next few Saturdays to soak in the atmosphere again. An entry is bound to come at a later date but for now it's all about kids and Christmas!!

This is little Kaedin in front of the kiddly-wink decorated tree at home with just half of the massive amount of gifts received on the day. Can't say I'm really into his new pj's but Von tells me that the skull and cross-bone is trendy at the moment :s


We had breakfast at Vonnie's freshly married sisters house... Lila is here helping Navi open one of her gifts.


Marty's parents in law gave both their son's-in-law a digeridoo (Aboriginal Australian instrument). It turns out my bro is pretty talented and just has to pick up the skill of circular breathing to really pull it off.


There's nothing like the playing that goes on after time around the Christmas tree. It was all smiles at the time this photo was taken but as I type Kaedy is having hysterics cause he wants Lila's scooter rather than his own. Child's logic!Their scooters are exactly the same!


And just to unashamedly confirm how completely incongruent I can be, displayed below are all the purchases I made at the boxing day today. I literally shopped till I dropped. While my credit card will suffer I sure got some good bargains. Some of the jewelery was only $4 or $5 dollars a piece!! I'm conceding on the copper colored shoes and Indian wrap though and returning them today. Got to be a bit realistic! The luxury items need to be the first to go.



This "read more" thing is cool if you know how to use it. One day I'll have to sit down with the html and get the gist. Sometimes it just isn't necessary... like now! ;) Read more!

My Christmas dilemma

Questions about Christmas have been in the back of my mind for the last 10 years but it's difficult to challenge the 'Christmas' I learnt to love as a child. After quite a bit of research it seems pretty clear to me that I'm going to have to make up my mind one way or another eventually. Every year Christmas becomes quietly more disturbing for me in some way as another of the traditions I love is brought into question. So, if you don't want to read on, I understand.

The birth of Jesus was never commemorated by the early church and isn't mentioned in the bible as a day of feasting, in December or any other month. For many hundreds of years before Christ people celebrated the winter solstice, the coming of spring and the gods they associated with the sun. The 25th of December marked the birthday of two of these gods. It was a time when everyone would have a holiday, give gifts and drink a lot of alcohol. Seems very familiar, doesn't it?.

The date only became relevant to Christians around 300AD. New converts were having so much trouble giving up their pagan festival that it seems that the pope of the day decided, "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em". From my reading almost all the Christmas traditions, symbols and customs, apart from the nativity etc, have a very long pagan history.

What will all this mean for me!? Every year I longingly look at the trees in the post-Christmas sales, but can't bring myself to buy one. I can decorate my Mum's house and buy decorations for family members but I can't buy for myself. This year I thought a nativity would surely be 'alright' - my first ever Christmas decoration in 37 years.


It is beautiful and reminds me that Jesus came, which of course is very important for me, but in the last few days even this purchase has been challenged. Will it be resolved by leaving the nativity up all year round?

Why have we had to conform, and eek Christian significance from a conglomeration of pagan festivals? Is this what God wants? Can we make that which is unholy clean by relabeling and repackaging? How does He see it all?

For now the thought of giving up Christmas is too difficult. Surely the good will Christmas brings and the reminder that Jesus came to this earth for us has significance of its own, even without the command to commemorate and celebrate! How it should all fit together though, I don't know. It's a good thing His gracious love is far deeper than any confusion I may have over a human tradition. In the end I know that walking in that love is really most important. Read more!

Canberra highlights

It's been a long time coming but the school year is done, reports out and Christmas shows mostly over. This draft begun on the 2nd is being posted on the 18th... my brain finally has space again for more relaxing pursuits. Thanks to those like Helen and Jourt who've set me back on track, blogging is one of them. It's 6 weeks of celebration, family, sun, catching up and low-key contemplation for me... there are benefits in teaching for sure! :)

Today I'll go back a few steps to report on the very successful year 9 Canberra camp. We met bright and early at school for the 14 hour bus trip (yes, you read right). The kids were great the whole week, even restrained in their seats for such long periods! It was fun getting to know them. We had so few hassles (besides keeping a lesbian couple from sneaking into each others dorms and two suspected broken bones acquired on the ice skating rink, with a subsequent bus trip to the hospital with all in tow) that it felt like a holiday rather than work.



Most days there were two sites to see, both morning and afternoon, with skating, water slides and movies in the evenings to make sure the kids really slept well. I was actually surprised by the Australian 'heritage' I saw in Canberra. I've always complained that we don't have enough history in this country. It has seemed to me that being on the earth a long time is what makes a society proud, but I've readjusted my view a little now. Sure, Canberra's all a bit staged and sterile, being so new and meticulously planned, but at least there's a sense of value placed on what it means to be an independent nation.

The war memorial was a powerful reminder of just how many lives are taken in war. It was spectacular, particularly the mosaic memorial to the unknown soldier with it's four giant mosaic's representing members of each of the forces and beautiful ceiling. I don't need to be jealous of countries with 'history' any more. The memorial may only be 67 years old but at least it shows that people cared enough to create something so stunning.


Our new parliament house is something to be proud of too. Part of me wonders at the amount of money spent when there are so many needs in the world, but I guess if there's anywhere a country can spend selfishly, it's got to be in the capital.

Below is one of my favourite photo's taken from a balcony in new parliament house overlooking the old parliament house building. The common lone pigeon taking in such a prestigious view, surrounded by the excrement of its brothers and sisters adds that little bit of irony that tickles my fancy. Not that I think our government is a complete 'waste' of time, but I guess I've never completely trusted the humanity of politics.


Canberra was very quiet when we were there as it was the week before our recent elections. Who knows what our new government has in store for us. Part of me is inspired that maybe my confidence will be restored, as much as it can be in a fallen world, and we will begin to see some worthwhile new directions with fresh leadership at the helm.

There was also a valuable personal lesson learned on camp that has, to this point, had quite an impact on me.



Andrea and I shared a cabin for the week, and some great conversation. She was interested in hearing what had made my first year of teaching teenagers so difficult. Just through talking it over I realised that my oversights and weaknesses as a teacher don't need to render me incapable all together. Forgetfulness is part of my personality and in one respect that won't really ever completely change, but half of my 'problem' I CAN do something about!!

1/4 of it is laziness... I can keep working on that by learning to "deny the lesser to gain the greater". The other quarter is lack of organisation. If I form better habits, like keep my diary open all the time, and set alarms, I'm bound to improve the situation. All is not lost. I do have control. God doesn't make mistakes. He's made me who I am and I have a responsibility to make the most of me! It sure put a different spin on the rest of the year and, I'm hoping, the rest of my career.

So, all in all it was a very eventful camp and a time I'm very grateful for in many ways. It's quite likely that I've not been blogging for the simple reason that I needed processing time. Who would have thought?!! :)
Read more!